The RPI football team kicked off its 2026 season in impressive fashion, securing a decisive 35-7 victory over WPI in the annual Transit Trophy Game held at ECAV Stadium in Troy. The Engineers' defense was the standout unit, demonstrating resilience and skill against a WPI offense that controlled possession for nearly 44 minutes.
Despite WPI's time of possession advantage, the RPI defense held strong, limiting their opponents to just 294 total yards. The Engineers recorded five sacks during the game, with junior defensive lineman Jack Chappa contributing two of those. Sophomore defensive back J.T. Walker also made a significant impact, not only with his defensive efforts but by intercepting a pass and returning it 66 yards for a touchdown.
RPI's offense was led by junior quarterback Micah Balzarini, who made his first career start. Balzarini completed 8 of 17 passes for 221 yards and threw two touchdown passes, showcasing his potential as a key player for the team this season. RPI head coach Ralph Isernia praised Balzarini's composure, noting his ability to connect with receivers for big plays that resulted in touchdowns.
Balzarini's performance included a 40-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Nate Ehui just over three minutes into the game, setting the tone for the Engineers. RPI extended its lead to 14-0 just before halftime, but WPI responded with a touchdown of its own, a 20-yard pass from Dylan Gallo to Dante Atwood, cutting the deficit to 14-7.
However, the RPI defense quickly regained momentum after halftime. Walker's interception return for a touchdown not only shifted the game's momentum back to RPI but also highlighted the team's defensive prowess. Walker described the moment as a combination of instinct and opportunity, stating, "I saw the ball and thought, ‘I’ve got to get that.’ Then the sea parted and I was untouched."
Following Walker's touchdown, RPI continued to assert its dominance. Senior running back Kayden White added to the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter and capped off the game with a 1-yard touchdown early in the fourth. White finished the game with 79 rushing yards on 17 carries, while Ehui led all receivers with four catches for 127 yards.
On the opposing side, WPI's Gallo struggled against the RPI defense, completing 34 of 55 passes for 268 yards but also throwing two interceptions. Walker reflected on the team's overall performance, stating, "The offense did what they needed to do, and the defense got stops and created turnovers. All around it was a great effort." This victory marks a promising start for RPI as they look to build on this momentum throughout the season.
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